There is a growing consensus today, that we are living in an age where the earth has been so deeply impacted by humanity, that a new geologic epoch – the Anthropocene – needs to be declared. The Anthropocene, or the ‘Age of Man’ is believed to have begun in the year 1950, and can be visualised as a distinct and heavy footprint on the earth. Furthermore, this footprint has been etched and defined by the prickly residues of our industrialisation, technological advancement, and rampant consumer culture.

This realisation has triggered a growing awareness in our society, with a focus on the consequences of our actions. And among those who are reflecting on their roles most deeply today, are designers and artists.

Going one step further than reflection and response, they are in fact using this awareness as a springboard for new, progressive design aimed for the future. They are seizing this opportunity to shift attitudes and cultures, to work most efficiently and globally, with open-borders, and to use familiar technology in new and thought-provoking ways.

The Earth Issue presents our newest collaboration with The Archive Collective and Form&Seek: a sub-issue dedicated to highlighting the designers and artists showcasing their work at Milan Design Week 2017 in response to the ‘Age of Man.’

‘’In a response to the growing awareness of the consequences of our actions we think that as designers we can play a leading role in shaping our future attitudes towards natural resources, production processes and the consumption of goods.’’ - Form&Seek

"The New Age of Trichology, a project by Dutch material designer and researcher Sanne Visser, explores the pure potential of hair as a raw material for design, reducing waste, environmental problems and the pressure on other non-renewable materials. The project consists of a range of utilitarian objects that help demarcate a system–all the way from the collection of hair, through to the end–its application."

- Purva Chawla, MaterialDriven

“It is interesting how we feel about the material environment around us–what kind of connection do we have with it? Do we distant it all from ourselves, or do we see our bodies in integrity with the shapes and materials of Earth?”

– Marija Puipaité, Designer

"In an age where the world is moving towards globalisation and homogenisation, Kuwaiti product designer Kawther Al Saffar’s Dual Bowls project focuses on finding cultural meaning in non-dominant, and non-western design perspectives. It highlights previously masked craft abilities in the locality of Kuwait and promotes a borderless view of culture through the experience of making."

- Purva Chawla, MaterialDriven

The Dual Bowls – made of mixed metals–are cast in the Alwafi Foundry in Kuwait, from industry recycled metals, and require a large nationally diverse community of craftsmen for their execution. Image courtesy of Form&Seek.